Would you buy a Four Post Drive on Lift or Two Post Lift

[RocksMan]

I am going to buy a lift to do general maintenance and aftermarket work on my own Jeeps and Chassis. I am split between a four post lift and a two post life.

http://eagleequip.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/ms7000xlt.jpg


http://eagleequip.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/XL9_325.jpg


Four Post Advantages:


Safer, vehicle is balanced on its wheels and has much more support.

Easy to use. Drive Straight onto it and hit the lift button. No need to line up lifters on the frame rails. Can get in and out of vehicle easily without posts in the way.

Can store an additional vehicle underneath, indefinitely.


Four Post Disadvantages:


Have to use an additional bottle jack or expensive hydraulic jack setup to lift the vehicle to change wheels, tires or work on suspension items.

Cannot flex suspensions.

Lift is in the way of geting to many items towards the outer edges like U-Joins, Ball Joints, Rocker Panels, Ect.

Cannot change complete axle assemblies as you cannot roll them under the vehicle and drop it back down on top of them like with a two post lift.




Two post Advantages:


Can flex suspension easily.

Can change axle assemblies easily.

Lift is not in the way of almost anything.



Two Post Disadvantages:


More unstable.

More work to use it, have to line up lifters.

Cannot(should not) be used as a storage lift for extra space.



Help me descide.

[Travis Waldher]

when I get a lift it'll be a 4 post drive on.

Being under a two post has always given me the heebee geebee's.

[Jam Master Jay]

This is just my opinion but:
If you're going to be doing suspension and axle work, you'll definitely want the 2 post. Using jacks/stands on a regular lift makes me nervous and basically defeats the purpose of a lift.

If you're doing stuff like oil changes and engine & tranny work you'd be better with the added safety of the 4 post.

I plan on getting a 2 post for the versatility.

[EasyXJ]

I'm not a fan of the 4 post, nor would I use a 2 post that has the hose/cable going across on the floor.

A 2 post with everthing overhead works great. I understand the unstable comment as I've had several vehicles on there doing the teeter totter impression. I usually just chain down the offending end to the arms. Setting the arms to lift the vehicle takes 5 minutes tops, is that a problem for you? I also don't understand why you think you can't store another vehicle underneath. I do it all the time.

Good luck with your decision.

[RocksMan]

I'm not a fan of the 4 post, nor would I use a 2 post that has the hose/cable going across on the floor.

A 2 post with everthing overhead works great. I understand the unstable comment as I've had several vehicles on there doing the teeter totter impression. I usually just chain down the offending end to the arms. Setting the arms to lift the vehicle takes 5 minutes tops, is that a problem for you? I also don't understand why you think you can't store another vehicle underneath. I do it all the time.

Good luck with your decision.
Setting the arms is not a problem I was just refering to the advantage of not having to do this. With regards to storing a vehicle underneath, you can do it but the fact that two posts mounted to the floor are not as strong a base as four posts squared off.

My only concern really is the functionality of a four post. Do you find it hard to work around?

[6.2Blazer]

We have both styles here at work............though about ten 2-post versions and only one 4-post style. The 2-post styles are far more versatile and much, much easier to do most work. The drive on 4-post style take up a lot more room when not used and in general make it much harder to do anything underneath the vehicle because you don't have as much room to work. The only real reason we have a 4-post is we have it set up to do alignment work.

Regarding stability, if you get a decent 2-post lift, it is installed correctly, and is properly rated there should be no issue. We have two different sizes....one is smaller and made for cars but it rated to around 7-8k?? I've had my 6k Blazer on it dozens of times and it's never an issue and always feel real stable. I use the bigger 2-post lifts (12k maybe?) for my crewcab pickup, but that's mainly because the arms are too short on the small lifts to reach far enough back.

[D60]

If you're going to be doing suspension and axle work, you'll definitely want the 2 post. Using jacks/stands on a regular lift makes me nervous and basically defeats the purpose of a lift.

Ditto

[Old Scout]

4 post for muffler and lube, 2 post for everything else.

[javelinpr]

what brand are you buying???

bend pak, rotary lift or what???

ive seen a couple of those cheap(cheap lift = $1,500) enough for anyone to buy. are those cheap lift reliable????

[ZukIzzy]

Look at any shop the shop truck is storred on the 4 post and the 2 post are being used for work. Good quality 2 post X10 vote unless you are doing lubes or exhaust and need to get rigs on and off all day. I have a 2post at home

Wayne

[pmurf1]

A couple of the shops I've been in that use two posts have a set of large jackstands for lack of a better word. They will put them under the rear bumper or something on the rear of the vehicle to help stabilize it while in the air. Service vans are usually pretty ass heavy and it makes it less shaky when they have the rear supported. The stands look like adjustable pipe stands without the rollers, they thread into the body for easy adjustment.

[DozerDan]

get a two post and then make/buy some BIG screw style jack stands.

That is what we do at my buddies shop, put the vehicle up, then one stand in the front and one in the rear, takes all the 'wobble' out of it.

Id say 2 post.

[jmhinescj]

the only lift I have used was a two post, with my jeep on it btw. I was changeing gears out and it probably would have been impossible (or at least more dificult) with a 4 post lift. It felt fine stability wise. I plan on putting a two post in when I build my shop.
Why is it wrong to store a vehicle on a lift and park under it?

[ironpig70]

a 2 post is great for removing bodies, tubs, and beds:D as well as all the stuff mentioned above

[The Rockslut]

The two post also makes a great lifting tool. Back your truck into the stall with that front 60 in the bed of your truck. Swing one arm over the bed, wrap chain around axle and lift. Drive truck out and lower.

[bronco75]

I got a 2 post above ground and love it but I have worked in many shops with 1 post in ground/ 2 post in ground/ axle lift 2 and 3 post in ground/ and 2 post and 4 post above ground
my favorite is the 2 post in ground and the axle lift 2 post in ground but for home use the 2 post above would be the best unless your just looking for storage
everytime I have had to work on a drive on lift they have been a pain the runners are always in the way

[socalchef]

get a two post and then make/buy some BIG screw style jack stands.

That is what we do at my buddies shop, put the vehicle up, then one stand in the front and one in the rear, takes all the 'wobble' out of it.

Id say 2 post.

ditto that. just be consistant and don't get lazy with setting the stands up.

[PTSchram]

If you're ever gonna work on air suspended vehicles, you'll want the four post, it's the only reason I want one.

[w83toy]

2 post, you might be able to get drive on ramps as an option if you need a drive on or make your own. I've worked under a 4 post drive on, hated every bit of it. Felt too confined and was always bumping into the lift. 2 post is much more open and if you want to do a body lift, it's easy.

[Travis Waldher]

2 post, you might be able to get drive on ramps as an option if you need a drive on or make your own. I've worked under a 4 post drive on, hated every bit of it. Felt too confined and was always bumping into the lift. 2 post is much more open and if you want to do a body lift, it's easy.

I can see the arguments for 2 post.

I've worked on a 4 post lift.. never found the ramps to be in my way, and found the runners to be a convient place to put tools. :grinpimp:

You do need to get one of those axle jacks for the 4 post lift though.

[AprilzWarrior]

As stated above, 4post = Lube and Mufflers

2posts all the rest.

Most 4 post lifts go up to 74"+- brands
Most 2 post lifts go up to 78+- brands

At 6' 3" I need that extra 4"s of head room.

I personally have 2, two post lifts. Bend Pak and Rotary. Rotary is my favorite by far. I dont like how the benk pak rams extend out the top of the posts, it comes close to my roof. Other wise both nice lifts.

http://fototime.com/FEA5C0E197B192F/standard.jpg


AW

[jwbures]

Hey Texas buddy. I surley agree with everyon else about getting a two post. I worked at a Ford shop in College Station for 3 yers and had plenty experiance will allsorts of lifts. The driveon's are nice for as said above lube, along with lower wngine work, tranny pulling and driveshaft work. The only way youll pull tires is if you get one of the nice drive on's with center lifters. WOW$$$$. The rotary's are nice but I was kinda fond of the Forward's. And for the long trucks, you just get a third arm with a threaded shaft to stabilize the rear of the truck from teetering.

Heres my truck and 4wheeler on the lift with no problem.
<a href="http://imageshack.us"><img src="http://img343.imageshack.us/img343/5319/181cq.jpg" border="0" width="3572" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a>

[jwbures]

Hey Texas buddy. I surley agree with everyon else about getting a two post. I worked at a Ford shop in College Station for 3 yers and had plenty experiance will allsorts of lifts. The driveon's are nice for as said above lube, along with lower wngine work, tranny pulling and driveshaft work. The only way youll pull tires is if you get one of the nice drive on's with center lifters. WOW$$$$. The rotary's are nice but I was kinda fond of the Forward's. And for the long trucks, you just get a third arm with a threaded shaft to stabilize the rear of the truck from teetering.

Heres my truck and 4wheeler on the lift with no problem.
http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/5155/183ys.th.jpg (http://img136.imageshack.us/my.php?image=183ys.jpg)

[TheBandit]

I don't think a 4 post is useful enough to justify buying one. I would rather spend a few hundred dollars on a good jack, jack stands, and a tranny jack. The rest of the money could be put toward other tools.

Now a 2 post... that's useful. Worth the money. You can actually do some work on it. There's nothing you can't do on a 2 post that you can do on a 4 post.

Safety? These things are operated all over the place by an uncountable number of businesses. If they weren't reasonably safe, lawsuits and/or OSHA would have gotten rid of 'em by now.

I wouldn't waste my money on a 4 post. It's either 2 post lift or no lift for me.

[MarkW]

I'll jump in here too and put my money on the 2 post. Kinda funny someone mentioned the heebee geebies earlier. For a long time I worked under a single post, then when I went to a shop with the 2 posts those things freaked me out, I was sure the arms would pop out on one side and I'd have a sideways car smashed in the lift, hopefully without me under it! Of course after a couple weeks I'd never choose anything else.

The only thing I've ever seen 4 posters good for is alignments, and then you need a hydraulic lift too.

Also, those long jackstandy-things are often called transmisson stands. Snap On calls them "utility stands" or they did when I needed to get one.

[jwbures]

Now I love the 2 post, and wish I had one for my own, but there are drawbacks. Worn out parts. A while back one of the guys at the ford shop had a 2000 model F-250 crew-cab short bed 4x4 on on of the 2 posts and was finishing up while the customer sat up front waiting. When he went to let it down, he tried to pull the safety pins but was unable, as the hydro system gave out. Now with no hydro, we couldn't relieve the pressure on the catches. So all the while telling the customer it would be just a few more min., we had 2 All American tow truck come into the shop to lift the truck up, then let it down. Lucky for us the wall in front of that stall was only about 8ft tall and came nowhere close to the roof and the tow trucks boom went right over it. Ha! Wish I had pictures.

Josh.

[AprilzWarrior]

Now I love the 2 post, and wish I had one for my own, but there are drawbacks. Worn out parts. A while back one of the guys at the ford shop had a 2000 model F-250 crew-cab short bed 4x4 on on of the 2 posts and was finishing up while the customer sat up front waiting. When he went to let it down, he tried to pull the safety pins but was unable, as the hydro system gave out. Now with no hydro, we couldn't relieve the pressure on the catches. So all the while telling the customer it would be just a few more min., we had 2 All American tow truck come into the shop to lift the truck up, then let it down. Lucky for us the wall in front of that stall was only about 8ft tall and came nowhere close to the roof and the tow trucks boom went right over it. Ha! Wish I had pictures.

Josh.



Im sorry but that has nothing to do with 2post vs 4post. Any hydro system with locks can do that. Thats why the locks are there, and they did their job, thats a lift I WOULD BUY. Am I wrong ?

[jwbures]

Yes, I mean no, I mean, well. No your right..........."ouch that hurt".

[Peter_C]

Search! Oh well I did for you...http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=422317